John Bolton pleads not guilty to mishandling classified information in US

Bolton's Guilty Plea Looks Shaky as Charges Over Classified Info Mount

John Bolton's decision to plead not guilty to federal charges over mishandling classified information could be a PR move, rather than a genuine defense. The former US National Security Adviser faces eight counts of transmitting national defense information and 10 counts of unlawfully retaining such information.

The charges have raised eyebrows due to the clear connection between Bolton's alleged offenses and his history with Trump. Their relationship has been strained since Bolton served as Trump's National Security Adviser from 2018 to 2019, a period marked by heated debates over US foreign policy.

Bolton has long been critical of Trump's handling of global affairs, and their disagreements have played out in public comments. In his 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, Bolton accused Trump of making reckless decisions based on personal interests rather than the country's.

While it is unclear whether Bolton was ultimately fired or resigned from his role, Trump has publicly claimed he did not want Bolton to continue as National Security Adviser. However, sources close to the matter suggest Bolton left office voluntarily.

The latest indictment marks a significant escalation in this case, with Bolton accused of mishandling classified information through personal communication channels rather than official means.

Critics point to the parallels between Trump's own alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and Bolton's situation.

Trump officials have also been criticized for their use of unsecured messaging apps to share sensitive military information, a practice Bolton has denounced as unprofessional.

As this case unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the Justice Department will pursue its charges against Bolton. What is clear, however, is that his indictment has been linked to Trump's broader efforts to target his critics through aggressive legal action.

The odds are stacked in Trump's favor due to his position of power and immunity from prosecution as a sitting president. However, if convicted on all counts, Bolton could face up to 20 years in prison - a stark reminder that no one is above the law, not even a former National Security Adviser turned critic.

think trump's trying to send a message by going after bolton... meanwhile, his own team was using those same unsecured messaging apps and getting roasted for it

anyway, bolton's got some serious leverage here... he knows all the tea on trump's dealings and could spill the beans if he needs to

justice department should focus on making sure nobody above the law gets away with anything

I think it's kinda suspicious that Bolton's going through this at the same time as Trump's own mess with classified documents . If you ask me, this whole thing might be a PR stunt to take attention away from the fact that Trump was handling those docs like they were his personal stash . And let's not forget, Bolton's been speaking out against Trump for years - it's possible he got caught in the crossfire . On the other hand, if I had to put my money on it, I think Bolton's got a solid alibi and is actually just trying to protect himself from being bullied by Trump and his crew . But hey, with 20 years in prison on the line, we'll have to see how this all plays out

I don't trust Bolton's move to plead not guilty just yet... It seems like he's trying to spin this whole situation and make himself look like a victim instead of taking responsibility for his actions. The fact that Trump's been involved from the get-go kinda makes you wonder if it's more about political payback than justice being served. I mean, these guys were never exactly known for their honesty when it comes to sensitive info... It's going to be tough to untangle who's really at fault here. The whole thing just feels like a big mess.

omg u guys i just can't even right now i'm literally shaking thinking about how shady trump's whole thing is and bolton being implicated too lol what if this is all just some big game of cat and mouse? like what if trump just wants to silence bolton for speaking out against him idk but one thing's for sure - it's getting super messy

I'm not sure what's more puzzling - John Bolton's guilty plea or the way we're justifying it as a PR move. It's like we're asking ourselves if someone's attempt to save their own skin is genuine or if they're just trying to salvage what's left of their reputation.

We need to ask ourselves why we, as a society, are so willing to accept the notion that those in power can operate outside the law and get away with it. It's like we've created this culture where "being powerful" equates to having more freedom to do whatever we want, without accountability.

Meanwhile, Bolton's situation is being used to justify Trump's own questionable behavior - taking classified documents and using personal communication channels for sensitive information. Is that really the kind of "leadership" we should be emulating?

In a way, I think this case highlights our biggest problem: how do we hold people in power accountable when they're also powerful enough to silence us? It's like trying to put out a fire with gasoline - it only makes things worse. We need to find a better way to address these issues and create a more just society, where everyone is held to the same standards.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing . I mean, come on, eight counts of transmitting classified info? That's some serious stuff . And let's be real, Trump's been accused of doing the same thing with his Mar-a-Lago documents . It's like, is this just a case of "he did it first" ?

But seriously, Bolton's decision to plead not guilty does seem a bit... convenient . I mean, he's got some serious grudges against Trump and the whole thing just feels like a PR stunt . And can we talk about how weird it is that they're still pursuing this case? Like, doesn't everyone deserve a second chance after being in office for four years?

And the thing that gets me is that Trump's not even facing any real consequences for his own alleged misdeeds . I mean, he's got immunity as a sitting president and it's like, what's the point of having a justice system if you're just gonna let your buddies get away with stuff?

The recent developments surrounding John Bolton's indictment have cast a shadow of doubt over his plea of not guilty . While it's possible that Bolton genuinely believes he can clear his name through this PR stunt, I find it increasingly unlikely . The numerous connections between Bolton and Trump's administration are too intricate to be mere coincidence . Trump's track record of targeting critics through aggressive legal action cannot be ignored .

Bolton's own criticisms of Trump's handling of global affairs have been well-documented , and it's clear that his dismissal from the National Security Adviser role was a turning point in their tumultuous relationship . The parallels between Bolton's alleged mishandling of classified documents and Trump's own situation at Mar-a-Lago are too striking to ignore .

As this case unfolds, I believe it's essential to examine the motivations behind the Justice Department's actions . While Trump's immunity from prosecution as a sitting president does pose a significant hurdle , Bolton's conviction on all counts could serve as a powerful reminder that no one is above the law . The stakes are high, and it will be fascinating to see how this case plays out in the courts .

Ugh I'm so tired of these rich and powerful folks thinking they're above the law! Like, what's next? Trump getting a slap on the wrist because he's a "big boy"? This is all about intimidation and silencing critics. Bolton might be guilty or not, but Trump's actions are super suspicious and it's clear he's trying to cover his own tracks And don't even get me started on the parallels between Trump's Mar-a-Lago mess and this whole thing... it's like they're playing a game of "us vs them"

I'm thinking about this whole situation with Bolton...

Imagine you're at a meeting and someone from another company tries to take some confidential files without asking. It's weird, right? That's kinda what's happening here, but on a much bigger scale.

Bolton was like the CEO of National Security (), and he had access to super secret stuff. But then, he did something with that info that was against the rules... or so it says.

The problem is, we don't know all the facts yet. Maybe Bolton wasn't entirely in the wrong? Maybe Trump's people were, too? It's like a big puzzle, and not enough pieces have been revealed yet.

What I find interesting is that this whole thing is happening with Trump as the "boss". He has power, immunity... it's kinda scary. But at the same time, if Bolton gets convicted, it could show us all that no one is above the law ().

this whole thing just feels super unfair to me... i mean john bolton's been critical of trump and now he's facing serious charges for the same kind of stuff that some of trump's own people have done? it's like, where's the consistency? and yeah, i get that trump has a lot of power, but that doesn't make him above the law. everyone deserves due process and to be held accountable for their actions my heart goes out to john Bolton and his family during this tough time

I'm kinda surprised Bolton's going through this. I mean, he was pretty vocal about his beef with Trump, so you'd think he'd be more careful with classified info now that he's on the receiving end of some juicy charges . But at the same time, I get why he's not pleading guilty - it looks like a dirty move to me . Trump's been pretty ruthless in targeting his critics, and this whole thing smells like a payback. What really has me curious is how the Justice Dept will play this one out. Will they push for serious consequences or just sweep it under the rug? And btw, have we seen any evidence of Bolton actually mishandling classified info or is it all about the optics

im thinking this whole thing with bolton looks like a setup. he's been vocal about his issues with trump and now he's got these super serious charges against him. it's almost like trump is trying to silence him. i mean, what are the chances that trump just happens to have friends on the justice department who will go after someone who's been critical of him?

idk why ppl think bolton's plea looks shaky tho i mean yes he got himself into some hot water what with trumps name and all but maybe hes just trying to turn tables? like if he pleads guilty now, then hes gonna be seen as the one who messed up rather than trumps team

lol @ trump's lawyers thinking they can use the whole "former president immunity" thing as an excuse it's not gonna fly. i mean come on, if trump thinks he's above the law just because he was in office, then what about all those times he got caught doing shady stuff? like, remember that time he leaked classified info to a reporter? didn't get too much scrutiny from his own party back then

and as for bolton's plea, i'm not buying it. if he thinks pleading not guilty is gonna help him more than facing the consequences of his actions, then he's got another thing coming the guy was a national security adviser, for crying out loud! you'd think he'd be better equipped to handle classified info than trump, who can't even keep track of his own tweets.

anyway, this whole thing is just a bunch of rich people playing games with the law. someone needs to take a stand and make them all answer for their actions

"Looks like Trump's ego is finally catching up with him . If Bolton goes down, it's a whole new level of accountability for Trump's shenanigans."

idk how much this plea deal is gonna matter lol, sounds like trump's got his finger on the pulse of justice anyway u think bolland's got a shot at getting off scot free? seems like he's just trying to make a name for himself while he's still relevant what if trump tries to use this as leverage to get bolland to spill more tea about him tho? that'd be low

I'm kinda surprised they're going after Bolton now... feels like they're trying to send a message . I mean, we've seen this same playbook with Trump's Mar-a-Lago mess, and it's just weird that the justice system isn't more evenly applied . But hey, at least it's good to see someone being held accountable for mishandling classified info... even if it is a former administration official . I guess you could say Bolton's plea looks a bit shaky because he was always so vocal about Trump's alleged shenanigans in his memoir . It's all very dramatic, but at the end of the day, it's just another example of how power can lead to some pretty questionable behavior .

Something fishy going on here... I think this plea might be a way for Bolton to save his skin from Trump's wrath . With all these charges against him, it's clear he was playing with fire by messing around with classified info. But what's really interesting is that the Justice Department is only now coming after him while Trump himself has been accused of mishandling documents too... seems like someone's trying to distract us from their own misdeeds . And let's not forget, Trump's got a reputation for going after his enemies with all guns blazing, so this whole thing feels like a setup to me .

the whole thing with bolton and trump seems fishy lol

i drew a simple diagram to show how the situation is unfolding
```
+---------------+
| Bolton |
| (former NSA) |
+---------------+
|
| Charged with:
| transmitting/retaining classified info
v
+---------------+
| Trump |
| (former Prez)|
+---------------+
|
| Accused of mishandling classified info too!
v
+---------------+
| Justice Dept. |
+---------------+

```
i think it's interesting how trump's actions are being scrutinized now that he's not in office anymore